Labor Day DUI crackdown in effect

Thinking of drinking and driving this Labor Day holiday weekend?  Think again.

A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation says there are more than 200 roadside safety checks set up across the state this holiday weekend. The enforcement combines two programs, the "You Drink & Drive. You Lose" campaign and the "Click It or Ticket" program.

If you will be drinking alcoholic beverages as part of your Labor Day weekend celebration then make sure you allow enough time to sober up. Generally speaking, it takes a healthy liver 1 hour to oxidize 1 ounce worth of alcohol. That's roughly the amount in 1 bottle of beer, 1 glass or wine or 1 shot of hard liquor. If you drink more alcohol than that in a single hour, it takes a correspondingly longer period to sober up.

There are no short cuts to this process.  Drinking a lot of water or large amounts of caffeine laced drinks do not make you sober, they simply alleviate the symptoms.  Your motor skills will still be impaired as well as your judgment. 

If you find that you have had too much to drink call a taxi, a sober friend, or family member to come and pick you up.  If you plan ahead you can hand your keys over to a designated sober driver and have them drive you home.  If a friend or loved one has had too much to drink don't let them drive, even if that means taking away their keys.

According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), the midnight to 3 a.m. time frame is the deadliest time of day to travel the roadways in Illinois. In addition, this time of day has the highest percentage of alcohol involvement and the lowest occupant restraint use for those operating and traveling in motor vehicles.

While driving this weekend keep in mind that others may be driving under the influence.

Drive defensively!

Buckle up.  In a 30 m.p.h. collision an unbelted 160 lb. Person can strike another passenger, crash through a windshield and/or slam into the vehicle's interior with a 4,800 lb. force.(James Madison University)

Assume the other drivers have been drinking.  That should help heighten your awareness.

Scan ahead.  The faster you are driving the further up the road you need to look.

Leave plenty of room between your car and the one ahead of you.

Don't assume the other drivers see you.  Make sure you have plenty of room when changing lanes.

Keep your eyes and attention on the road ahead of you.  Talking on your cell phone is a huge distraction.

If you spot a driver weaving in and out of traffic, keep them where you can see them while giving them plenty of space.

This law enforcement crackdown is funded by federal traffic safety funds through IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety and runs concurrently with the Labor Day “You Drink & Drive, You Lose” campaign. For more information, visit www.drivesoberillinois.org.